Thursday, September 12, 2013

BN is a Cheat!

Four months on, there is yet to be closure for the ferociously disputed GE13, even as Pemantau, with its election observance project, detailed its report on the national polls.

The observers' coalition comprising of Bersih, Mafrel and Pusat Komas, had drawn data from some 2,000 volunteers nationwide during the 13th general election, having monitored a total of 23 parliamentary seats on nomination day, 51 seats during campaign period and 87 seats on polling day. The 69-page report released on Tuesday had concluded that there was widespread electoral misconduct but stopped short on giving a verdict if the irregularities had swayed the election results in BN’s favor.

In fact, one of the most widespread violations was treating (distributing goodies) and electoral bribery. During the campaign period, it found instances of bribery involving valuable consideration and other goods in 23 of 51 observed constituencies. And 19 of the observed constituencies saw cash handouts. E.g. Money being handed out at an UMNO branch in Pasir Gudang and "travel expenses" being distributed at another UMNO branch in Kota Kinabalu.

Let me say it again: Pemantau is confirming that GE13 did not meet the standards for clean, free and fair elections. In plain simple English, BN cheated us of the elections.

Pemantau steering committee and Mafrel chief Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said it was up to the legal institution to determine whether the general election should be declared null and void.

That aside, Malaysians must ask if we are still going to take it lying down.

Last evening, a sizable contingent of excited Sunway University Toastmasters braved the busy Damansara-Puchong Highway (LDP) to reach Damansara Uptown in order to give support to two of our members competing in the Area B6 Humorous Speech & Speech Evaluation Contests. [I had decided to make way for the duo to take part!]

And so, Mirosha Somasundram (above photo) did us proud when she was declared Humorous Speech champion. Unfortunately, Sharif Ahmed wasn’t placed in the Evaluation Contest but I know he gave his all. Congratulations to these two gung-ho members for their participation! Better still, one of them was even victorious!